Finding a new Mid-Life Career : Med School at Age 51

A Canadian CEO, Brian Levy, returned to medical school after his corporate job wet sour. To be sure, he enjoyed a number of advantages. He’d left corporate life with a package of $11 million. He drives to the hospital in a Lexus. But his profs say he works harder and he’s the most prepared for any medical presentation. He has real empathy with the patients.

Inspirational to a point: it helps if you’ve got the money and family support. But if you’re worried about having energy and brainpower for this kind of career change, read about it here.

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Beating Age Discrimination With Internet Marketing

Several readers asked for additional tips for getting started on the Internet (see previous post).

First, before you spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on web design or development, I recommend considering WordPress as a platform for your website as well as your blog. Many people figure out WordPress on their own (with the help of some online advice). If you’re in a position to invest in training, you can speed up the process. You can also identify some sneaky (but legal) tips and some ways to get the most from your website and blog.

Start with the free stuff…and this is the perfect time. Christina Hills put together some good videos to introduce her forthcoming workshop:

Start here to get some good background on WordPress websites: http://budurl.com/createwpsite

Christina also made a couple of hilarious videos that get you started.
http://budurl.com/juliac

and
http://budurl.com/cookpost

Christina is one of the most conscientious, ethical marketers on the Internet. I’ve been in her shopping cart club for years and still maintan my memberhsip. So if you can comfortable afford to sign up for this workshop, you would be off to a great start for creating a business on the Internet.

I am also a big fan of Jeannette Cates. She’s not one of the flashy names you’ll see around the Internet, but she’s also very ethical with some excellent tools for newbies. http://budurl.com/jcates

And from time to time I offer free and affordable resources. Sign up for the Copy Cat Ezine.

http://budurl.com/jcates

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Aging: Dying with Dignity: Lessons from the Nuns

The New York Times ran a fascinating and thought-provoking article on the way nuns achieve the elusive goal of a “good death.” Acccording to the author, the nuns often turn down intensive end-of-life care that adds to pain and expense but achieves nothing. Because they have a place that’s comfortable and welcoming, they are spared the indignities of hospitals and nursing homes. Read it here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/health/09sisters.html?_r=1&em

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The Mid-life Brain: Smarter than we realized

Mid-life career strategy calls for sensitivity to stereotypes about aging. One stereotype is that we take longer to learn and resist learning new things.

A recent New York Times article supports a theory I’ve held for years. As we get older, our brain holds more and more data. So we just have more to process. Thats why we may forget more easily.

I used to remember phone numbers of just about everyone I know. Now I just know a lot more people. I call them a lot less frequently (due to email). And of course I use speed dials and auto-dials.

But, says the Times, aging brains also have a broader context to place new information. We remember parallel events that took place years ago. We process information more thoroughly, so we appear to be reading and taking in new information more slowly.

Possibly.

My own view is: When you look at a group of 14-year-olds of a certain socioeconomic class, you’ll find many similarities. They’ll be in school. They’ll have certain physical capabilities

But a group of 54-year-olds and 64-year olds will have enormous variation. Just look around your local fitness center. Some folks are walking around in a little circle, moving slowly to the music. Others are running marathons.

That’s why I think we have to take charge of our own destinies as we get older, not depending on external forces for solutions to jobs and other challenges.

At my last college reunion, one of my classmates urged me, “Bring copies of your e-books and distribute them!” That was someone Unclear on the Concept. And that was also my last class reunion.

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